Flu Battle, Vaccinations Continue Across North Texas

As the flu epidemic continues to hit North Texas, health leaders are hammering the message: It's still not too late to get vaccinated. (Published Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014)

As the flu epidemic continues to hit North Texas, health leaders are hammering the message: It's still not too late to get vaccinated.

Some clinics have quickly run out of the shots, but several DFW-area Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores say they’re stocked up.

At the Wal-Mart store off Northwest Highway and Skillman in Dallas, NBC 5 found there wasn’t a line at the pharmacy and they had plenty of flu shots in supply.

“We got a heads up on the issues that were going on with the flu shots, so we were giving the incentive and directions to order enough supply to have some in stock. We have plenty of supply and figure my other Wal-Mart pharmacies, as far as I know, Wal-Mart is not experiencing a shortage as some other retailers are,” said Dallas Wal-Mart Pharmacist Emelda Azu-Irondi.

She said even though her store has plenty of doses of the flu shot, there's still not the demand. She's only been giving out a dozen shots a day.

That was good news for Elizabeth Bula, she tried a CVS Store first a couple of weeks ago.

“The pharmacy I went to was out of stock, so I’ve just kind of been putting it off until now,” said Bula.

The 25-year-old said this is the first year she’s rolling up her sleeve to get a shot.

“I know the age range I’m [in] and it's almost like we’re being targeted this season. It’s interesting to hear how many people have gotten sick, and some people have passed away, which is so sad. Hearing that, realizing I should've gotten a shot, I’m out here and getting it done," said Bula.

Lucy Neal's sister is a nurse in the intensive care unit. She heard the warning from her: don't wait any longer.

“So many of her patients have been younger people, not just babies and elderly people, in their 20s. So I thought, 'OK, I better get vaccinated,” said Neal.